PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1899.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11485, 27 March 1899, Page 2

PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1899.

A Parliamentary refarn jaat to hand gives tho amount of mortgages registered from 31st March, 1897, to 31st March, 1898, the different rates of fntero3t payable, and the district in which the moneys have been* advanced ; also the total amount of mortgages paid off in uacli district in tho same period, hi Taranoki tho amount advanced was £486,852, and the amount paid off was £306,974, while the rates of interest vary from 8 to 12£ per cent, £1000 having been lenf. at'tbe lower, and £900 at the higher rato. The return does not specify the rate at which £73,182 was advanced, but the average interest paid on tho amount of £-113,070 was 6- 32 per cent. In the Auckland province £845,674 was advanced at rates ranging from 3 up to 40 ' por cent., £30 being lent at the latter figure ; the average interest, calculated from tlio figures given, was 552 per cent. In Hawke's Bay the total advances were £034,842, and tbo average rate of interest 529 per cent,

The amouut advanced in Wellington was £1,768,207, and the average rate of interest is s'Bl per cent. In Oantorbury the total advances amounted to £1,359,140, nnd the average rn'o of interest 523 per cent. In Otago advances amounted to £510,641, tbe average rato being 533 per cent. In Southland advances amounted to £129,932, and the average rate to 547 per cent. In Gisborne advances amounted to £388,530, and the aver-

age rate to (J'43 per cent., but here tho greater proportion (£218,199) was lent at rates which are not specified, so tbat tlienverage cannot be regarded as at a'l accurate.' In Nelson province£lßl,sG4 was advanced at an average rat? of 5*1 5 per cenk In Marlborough tbe amount advanced was £07,129, and the average rate 543 per cent. In Westland only £20,570 was advanced, and the average was just a fraction under eight per cent. It will thus been seen that, with the expection of those in Westland, where tho advances were trifling and circumstances exceptional, and of Gisborne, the figures for which are not reliable, Taranaki borrowers had to pay about one pei cent, more for their money than those in any other province. This may partly be accounted for by the fact that the amounts borrowed are usually small, but even allowing that it seems that tbe rates aro unduly high as compared with other parts of the colony. Out of £2,029,506 advanced in the colony at 5 per cent., only £66,623 was lent in Taranaki, while out of £214,609 on tth'ch the rate of interest was 8 per cent., £61,296 was advanced on Taranaki securities. It cannot bo that securities in this district are generally of a lower class than elsewhere, for there is no more prosperous or pro| gressive district than this. There is apparently a.i excellent field here for the capitalist.

The average annual rainfall for New Zea'and for thirty-four years from 1864 to 1897, from records taken at Auckland Wellington, Canterbury, and Dune* din, ia 38 -947 inches. Of the four centres named Canterbury js the driest, the average there being only 25*132 inches, while Wellingt* 11 has 51-247 inched. The West Coast of the South' lsland has an average of 118 inches at Hokitlka and 103 inches at Oreymouth. In Tarauaki recordß taken over a period of twentyvfive years show an average raiafall of_6o inches, but ifc is rem ukable that in every year that the records have b:en taken since 1883 the average has been exceeded, somttimes by nearly twenty-five per cent. This seems to cast some doubt upon the accuracy of the average given, and no doubt 60 inches i.i too low an estu'. raata for the province, for prior to 1883 the observing stations wero but few in number. The return i-t interesting in that it disproves tha theory, often advanced that wet or dry seasons come at more or less regular periods If we take Auckland for instance wo find that 1896, 1891^ 1888, 1837, 1886, 1355, and 1881 were"*drier than tha average, while 1897, 1893, 1890, 1883, and 1882 were unusually wet. In Wellington 1895, 1892, and 1884 were noted for a heavy rainfall, while 1891, 1889, and 1885 were exceptionally dry. In Canterbury 1897, 1890, 1880, and 1878 were droughty, and 1896, 1895, 1887, 1886, and 1883 were the reverse. Considering that nolhing under 60 inches has been registered in Taranaki sinca 1880, no yaar can be said to have been a particularly dry one here, but 1897, 1891, and 1883 were more than usually wet. The average rainfall for the whole co'ony for all stations is given as 53-976 inches.

A Reutsr's despatch received in London states that negotiations arc proceeding between Great Britain and Russia, which indicate that an early and satisfactory settlement of tho Chinese question will be arrived at. Russia, it is stated, is williDg to yield Niu-chwang and take compenfation elsewhere. The statement a 9 cabled is perhaps more comprehensive than the facts warrant, sinco the settlement, if arrived at, will only affect a portion of what is known as the Chinese ques'lioc. Since, however, the matter specially referred to i< one of the critical points at ismo between the two principal Powers interested in the whole qutH'.ion, ifc may be hoped (hat the amicable understanding may extend to the other Powers and to the other issues at stake. The particular-difficulty which is reported to be in a fair way to be overcome is in connection with the Chinese Imperial Railway fi vesper cent. Gold loan for £2,300,000. Tbe loan was issued with a quan guarantee of the British Govern-, rofent, binoe it was arranged " with the knowledge of Her Mai ist/s Government, and an assurance froro the Chinese Government that none of tho railways I named in (ho contract for the loan sball ba alienated to any foreign Power has been offioiallv communicated to f1.8.M. Minister in Peking by the Tsung liYamea. Iler Majesty's Government have consented to tako note of (ha same as constituliag a binding engagement on the pait of the Chinese Government.' .Since one terminus of the lino was proposed to be at Niu-chwang, a port which Russia had already practically annexed, a difficult} arose, which was aggravated by th 9 Russian demand that tho new line shou'd not be pledged to any foreign creditors, nor su^ct to any foreign control or jnanagement' of any kiod The Biitbh Government, hiving to some extent pledged its support to th» financiers who were rinding the money, intervened, and their diplomatic n°gotia* tions seem likely to bear good fruit. In this there appears to be evidence of a desire on Iho part of Russian Sla'esmen to cultivate more friendly relations with Great Britain, and the whole question has a decidedly more hopeful aspect now than it has recently borno.

News comes from England of an entirely new process of seasoning wood, which, if it does all that is claimeJ for it, should revolutio! he the timber industry. la a country like New Zealand, whore wooden buildings aro tho rule/V aDy process whereby timber could be seasoned quickly and cheßply would be of tho greatest value. At present in a great many C3ses houses are built of half-seaeonod timber or timber that is not seasoned at all, with the result of oarly decay and of continual expenditure This new process •which is now beingv tried in England is called tho Nordon-Bretonnean sjstenv The material to be seasoned io placed in a Urge tank and immersed, all bub on inch or two, in a solution containing 10 per cent of borax, 5 of rosin, arjd :J: J of car» bouato. of soda. The lead plate upon which it rests is oonnected to tho positive pole of a dynamo, and thenegativo polo being attached ' to a tfmilar plato arranger! on its uppor servico so bh to give good electrical contact, (ho circuit is completed through the wood. Under the influenc? of the current tbo a'ip is said to

rise to the surface of the bath, while the assptio borax and rosin solution takes its place in tho pores of the wood. Tbe time occupied ia this part of the process takes from five to eight honr3 for its completion, and then tbe wooi is removed from the bath and dried either by artificial or natural means. If dried in the latter way, a fortnight's exposure in summer weather is said to render it as well seasoned as storage in the usual way for five years. The electric current employed has a potential of 110 volts, the consumption of energy beiiig about one kilowatt per hour for each cubic metre of timber, and the greener the wood the better, because its. electrical resistance is less. The I'quid in (hs bath is kept ac a temperature of from 90 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It is claimed by those who are using tho process at Home that its result* are most satisfactory, and as the plant required to be used cannot ba called expensive, and the necessary chemicals plso are cheap, the process appears to readily lend itself to adoption in New Z°aland.

Another batch o* old age pensions was dealt with by Mr Stanford, S.M., to»day (Monday). The presentation of a public testimonial to tbe Minister for Lands will be mads in Wellington on April. 7th or Bth. Iha only bunting displayed in New Plymouth in honour of the Premie* I * visit, was that floating in front of Mr J.

Butterworth's premises.

One old age pension applioant before Mr Stanford, S.M. to-day (Monday) stated that he was milking ten cows last year, but it took nearly all his time to keep the land clear of blackberries.

The medals to be given as points' priz 8 at the Star sports on Easter Monday are now on view in Mr A. L. Cooke's shop window, and reflect great credit on Mr Cooke's workmanship, having been made and engraved by him.

It was understood that General Booth, wh^n passing through Wangsnui, would give an address at the Aramoho railway station on Friday afternoi n Ifc is n>w announced that owing to the General's weak state of health the address will not be given. ( '

There was a good muster of volunteers at the Church Parade held at the

Whiteley Memorial Chu r ch ou Suud.iy morning Rev C. H. Garland delivered a forcible addres* bt '-Patriotism. ' Tho City Bans' played th 9 company to and from the Chuch.

The Premier proved himself to be something of an equestrhn during his journey from Auckland to New Ply mouth. Fully 40 miles was accomplished on horseback, and when the paity arrived at Urenui Mr Seddon Wdscons'uterally in advance of the members, and isdesciibed " as being tha frosho3S of the lot." A iniiMle-iiged colou ed "lady," named A nnio Harris a!ia3 Morris, who was clescrioed by Sergeant Stagpoo'.e -as "b ing well known to the police in thi- colony," was before the Magistrate to-day (Monday) on a charge of having no vis ble lawful means of supf o. t The defendant ploaded guilty and was sentenced to th<ee

months impria mment.

W heth^r lift Cape to Cairo railway bs fantastic or reasonable, Air Rhodes is the man to cany it through. The sooner people in Germany oaase to ehrug their shoulders at the mention of hi * name tbe better. It is no good calling him an adventurer or a criminal. Rhodes is cut out of the same block as Clive. In working for himself hois also working for England's greatness and the rapture isiih which he h greeted in England should awaken within us a desir.e to do for Germany what he has done for hi* native land. — Berlin Lokalauiaiger. Another " teliiog talk" on temperance was delivered by Mrs Harrison Lee in the Theatre Royal on Sunday night; to a very large audience. la a clear, lucid, atid interesting * manner, Mrs Lee spoke strongly against the eviU of stroDg diiuk, buttressing her remarks with pathetic and huinorou3 anecJotes, ond she sue ceeded in building up a strong ca?e in favour of tbe causs am so ardently advocates. 'Ibis afternoon Mrs Lee delivered an address to women, nnd to-night ahe'ppeaks again at tho Whiteley Hall at 7 o clock. Sitting in civil jurisdiction to-day (Monday), Mr Stanford, S.M., gave judgments for plaintiffs in the following cases: -Callaghan & Paynter v. Morrison; claim, 14s Ci and costs ss. Mr Wilson for plaintiffs— Auckland Clothing Comnany v. W. Allen ; claim £2 15s, and costs ss. Mr Wtßton for plaintiff company. — D. Bell v. W. Taylor; chim £2 B, and j coats 13a. Mr Hughes for plaintiff.— G. Rarason (in the estatejof W. H Clarke) v. Carroll; claim £5 0< 6d, and costs. Mr We-ston for plaintiff. — A number of. other cases woro adjourned. .English papers aro drawing attention to the burning question of the .nines of our

wirahips. Wo are weary of titles of Irresisiible, Ariadne, Sutli-j, and Cresav, which have no great associations with the Navy, while there are dozens and dozens of. fine names which have isscciations going begging. Ifc is almost a scandal that neither Sir Francis Drake nor Sir Richard Grenville are commemorated in our sbij tides; we certainly ought to have an Africa, ns a graceful compliment to iha Cape; and a drastic change in the system of providing appellations for our dastroyers is required. Angler, Arab, Ariel, almost compel vi to weep. — Daily Mail.

Mrs Frances Lte, who represents Arapaboe County in the State Legislature of Colorado, pres-ided over iha deliberations of the llous' on Jauuary 12th, by invitation of the Spe-iktsr, Mr Smith, who took the fl >or to speak on an i po cant bill. Mrs Lee's embarrassment (sijs a Daily Mail corr spondent) soon disappeared. She showed herself conversant >with parliamentary tactics, an*d proved a very go Jd Speaker. Sho docided several points in dispute with judicial firmness, an] onoe or twice had occasion to sharply call mombeiM to order. During the debate she was vwouslya Pressed as Mr Speaker, Mrs Speaker, and Madame Speaker. The ! most popular seemed to be Mrs Speaker, which title will bj a optel on future occasions.

The Wanicobi Freo Press states that the province w suffering from a -'girl fotr.ine. ' Servants, apparently, cinnot bo hired oven by tho offer of Very high wages. The young person who acts as genoral servant in a private famUy civ eati|y commiud sixteen liollaia a month ; 'while the parlour- maid a 9 easily bbtaioa eighteen doilais, tho cook twenty-five dollars, and the lnundress from fifteen 'to twenty dollar*. The attempt to introduce British serving-maids has not been altogether a succbs that is,fro:n thepoiut of view of tho ficrvantleaa residents- A uuml/er of Hcottifh lassies wore brought, to the 1 province last spring, thair -fares being paid. Already over fifty per cent aro married. »

Dr. Guerard, tho special export appoiuled by tho New York Legislature to examine into the spread of tuberculosis in Now York, has made a startling report showing tho commuuicability of the disease in what corresponds to the Whitechapel district in London. Of 663 houses, there were 248 in which consumption wag found, thero being in three years 541 cases Many of these houses had bad cases every year for three consecutive years. Dr. Guerard's conclusion is lhat houses la'Jly infected should be torn down to prevent the spread of the disease In tho entire city during the past five years nearly 23 per cent, of all the houses had inmates who died from tuberculosis.

There J3 nothing like really good Oatmeal to build up a strocg constitution. Twct'rli'-'s Pakh)' br'inrl mi) bo relied upon. 0 .

Mrs Mitcbinson forwards us some 'emarkably fine tomatoas.

Me Fred Earle, who was recently for some months on tha staff of this paper, is spending a short holiday in New Plymouth.

The Christchurch Meat Company have leased Nelson Bros.' Freezing Woiksat Wpodvillefor the purpose of bacon-curing works for the present.

''There is no greater friend of the lawyers than the man who makes his own will and bis own agreements.'" — Judge Edwards, in the Arbitration Courfc.

Captaiu Edwin wired this afternoon : — North-east to east and south gale with heavy rain; gla>s fall. Indications of flood and for low tide-.

F. Hunt, the well-kuown New Zealand cyclist, who has bocn in Australia for the last two years, returns to the colony next mou'h, and will be seen on the track again next season.

It is stated that before long powerful gold dredges wll be at work iv the Ooromaudel harbour. Hundreds of acres of the harbour have been tukeu up for dredging purposes?

A Press Association telegram from VVellington says: — The Official Assignee has left suddenly for Nelson on important business, the nature of which was not disclosed, but it is understood thit more will be heardbf it

la the course of the operations undertaken to take a water supply from Wale 3 to Birmingham, a tunnel \\ miles long had to be bored through hard rock. The work was undertaken from both ends, and drilia actually met point to point.

Among the old age pension applicants at Opunake lav.t week was an old Maoii veteran, who was one" of those connected with tho recent illegal ploughing operations, and who i\ a strong discipio of Te Whiti. Ihe application was adjourned to allow further enquiries to be made con» cerning the applicants means.

The terms on which Mr John Morley has undertaken the Gla3stom biography have naturally been the subject of a good deal of surmise. I should not mind adventuring a guess thit the handsome fee £10,000 has been decided upon, indeed has already been paid over- for tha arduous an 1 honourable task that Mr Morley has undertaken.— The Academy

In the course of his remarks to the deputation on noxious weeds this (Monday) afternoon, Mr Sed'ion said he quite agreed as to the^-necessity of something being done to overcome the spread of noxious weeds. He hid noticed in the Urewera Country during his trip from Auckland that thjre were thousands of acres covered with !>riars and other undesirable aa3 unprofitable .veeds.

Tha following i< the private deposition of Henry Re veil, binkrupt, tiKen by Mr Robfc. (Jt. Biuchope, - Deputy Offici.il Assignee:- I began business as a biker aad coufectionsr iv De?on-street a little more than ten years ago. I had £31 in cash at that time. I took over a bill of s-ile over crystalware and shop fitting* for t'4i, whi'-h I paid off at iho rate of £5 per mouih I wa* doing a good business, aud thought it was a profitable one till a short time ago when I felt myself; shore of monay to meet my payments. I engaged Mr Corkill a short time aj;o to look in'o my affiin>, and his report showed that I was vLtu illy insolvent, an i I tried to make a piivate arrangement with my creditors and offered os i \ thi ii, which was not accepted I attribute my bankruptcy to the heavy expanses which I see now were more than the overturn warranted.

One hears some terrible stori^ at times of the infamies which are practised by adventurers and adventuresses at the West-end o£ London. I h-ive h*ard recently of a oase which was hushsd up a short time back iv which a lady of title wai the arch offender. Incredible as it. may seem, this lady was the ruling spirit of a gaug who lived by preying upon persons of family and means "trapped to their undoing by deliberate lures. If it were suggested in a penny dreadful, or in a tawdry melodrama, that a lady of rank was the instigator of such a system, it would be laughed to s?orn as the gin sodden fancy of a garrstij hack. But it is nevertheless true Under the smiling surface of London society — its refinement, its splendour, and its fastidious con mentions —♦here aro hideous symptoms akin to thos3 of classic decadence.— Manchester Chronicle.

Referring to direct trade wiih Man-* chester, a piper published in thit city says: - " The main ficts are so simple that they can be stated ia a Uuq or'two. In the district-, of which Manchester is the cammercial an-i industrial centre, we hivo a teeming population which will readily consuma all the food products Australians and New Zealanders can send U3 Mr Pease and others who are thoroughly acqiaiuted wi.h the producing capabilities of the colonies, tell us thit (hay are willing to ship to us all we require. At present \he shipments gj to London, and northern 'i nd midland consumers have to bear ihe extra cost of railago. Why should not that be paved ? The material and flnan cial benefit would ba felt ionmed-ately. Bub to bring about this result there muse be a reconciliation of conflating interests —a task which ought not to be altogether beyond accomplishments Ie ii recognised that the initiative must come from this end. Outward cargoes may present some difficulty at the beginning, but once the scheme is entered upon there is little reason to doubt that the colonists will reciprocate to the utmost of their powac."